REU: Rare Earth Tracer Techniques for Larval Dispersal

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A major limitation to our progress in understanding of larval dispersal and recruitment processes in marine systems is our inability to track the movements and fate of larvae in the ocean. Dr. Levin will investigate the development of techniques for use of rare earth elements to label invertebrate larvae and inanimate (passive) particles in the field. Rare earth elements make excellent tracers because they occur at extremely low background levels in nature and are inert when introduced into the field, but become highly radioactive and are detectable at nano-to picogram levels when subjected to neutron activation. Advantages of this tracer over others are the short time and minimal manpower required for label detection in plankton or tissue samples, and the high degree of sensitivity and accuracy associated with neutron activation analysis. The research will develop incorporation techniques for bivalve, crustacean and polychaete larvae, assess label persistence and behavioral effects, and incorporate rare earths into passive particles with fall velocities comparable to the larvae of interest.